Two policemen from Pumula North in Bulawayo on Tuesday appeared in court charged with torturing a woman while investigating a fraud case involving R1 000 in October last year.
Constables Tinevimbo Shoko of Nkulumane and Tazvitya Mudzingwa of Emakhandeni based at Pumula North Police Station in the city pleaded not guilty to the charge when they appeared before Western Commonage magistrate Themba Chimiso.
They were remanded out of custody to February 21 for continuation of trial.
The court heard that on October 18, Mankazanyana Moyo of Pumula East was summoned to Pumula North Police station by Shoko over investigations into a dispute between her and two women only identified as NaFlorence and NaMaNdlovu.
Moyo was allegedly interrogated by Shoko on allegations of fraud which she denied.
Shoko is alleged to have assaulted her twice under her foot using a baton stick.
The court heard that during the alleged assault, Mudzingwa entered the charge office carrying a rifle and slapped Moyo once on the left cheek.
She then reported the matter to the police at West Commonage who gave her a letter to get medical attention.
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Moyo was attended to at Mpilo Central Hospital where a doctor compiled a report detailing her injuries, leading to Shoko and Mudzingwa’s arrest.
During cross-examination, Shoko told the court that he told Moyo when she came to the charge office that she was under arrest for fraud.
He said after interrogation Moyo pleaded with him not to open the fraud docket saying they better resolve the issue with the two women who had reported the fraud.
But Moyo said Shoko forced her to produce the R1 000 in question.
“He told me to remove my shoes and ordered me to lift my foot up before assaulting me twice using a baton stick.”
“Later came Mudzingwa who also slapped me on the ear and eye after he had left the gun he was carrying somewhere,” she said.
Charity Nyathi is prosecuting the case.
